Lifestyles Column by Joanna Brichetto

“Cult favorite” wedding blog StyleMePretty branches into book mode with Style Me Pretty Weddings by Abby Larson. This gorgeously illustrated volume is sure to have a broad appeal beyond its built-in blog readership. The allure of style choices will be irresistible to anyone planning a “bespoke wedding,” the wonderfully old-fashioned term for a marriage ceremony...

Feature by Eliza Borné

Home may be where the heart is, but what living space—no matter how beloved—couldn’t use a little sprucing up? From quick-fix projects to complete overhauls, these five books provide inspiration and guidance for adding style to your abode.Sherry and John Petersik, the upbeat couple behind the popular blog younghouselove.com, cheer on DIY-ers in Young House Love. Filled with...

Lifestyles Column by Joanna Brichetto

Plastics are everywhere, even in places we might not imagine. I had no idea the inside of my organic soy milk carton was lined with plastic, or that plastic is what makes glossy book jackets so slick. Plastic Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too is full of such examples of plastic’s presence around us—and what’s worse, even inside us. The surprise is how...

Lifestyles Column by Joanna Brichetto

Breverton’s Complete Herbal is a new twist on a very old classic. Culpepper’s Complete Herbal, in print since 1653, has helped common folk help themselves for centuries with herbal remedies. Terry Breverton’s version is completely up-to-date. It contains “all the most interesting herbs, spices and associated herb gardens and gardeners,” which means more than 250...

Feature by Eliza Borné

You don’t have to go to art school or commission a designer to have a beautiful home—but a tasteful design book will provide you with plenty of inspiration. In these four books, you’ll learn to mix high and low interiors and incorporate plenty of bright color. Filled with gorgeous photographs, design books make lovely gifts for a loved one or yourself, and will be at home on...

Feature by Kelly Seaman

Seed and nursery catalogs have been arriving in gardeners’ mailboxes for months already, fueling dreams of spring gardens all winter long. If that’s not been enough to make you (or your favorite gardener) plant-crazy, here are three more chances, three books ready to jump-start your garden plans.Ken Druse (author of the ground-breaking The Natural Garden and Making More Plants,...

Feature by Linda M. Castellitto

Mother’s Day is coming up, and these books are great for those who want to give or receive something more exciting than a greeting card. Memoirs about unconventional moms, artistic explorations of the mother-child bond and a new take on midlife make excellent food for thought—and crafting and design guides will inspire new creativity. These books celebrate motherhood in its many...

Green like me

Quirky actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. ("Living with Ed") was riding his bike to the Vanity Fair Oscar party long before green was cool. In Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life Begley outlines his frugal but fun earth-hugging approach to living "simply so others could simply live." Just six compact sections - home, transportation, recycling, energy,...

Beauty on a budget

Crafts of all sorts have made a huge resurgence right along with the DIY trend, and women who knit, sew or are otherwise crafty will want to incorporate some of that into their wedding (and save a little money in the process). Khris Cochran's The DIY Bride: 40 Fun Projects for Your Ultimate One-of-a-Kind Wedding provides inspiration and projects for save-the-date cards, invitations, jewelry...

A gentle guru

Katherine Whiteside wants you to enjoy your garden. I'd imagine she'd be the perfect companion to have along while touring some breathtaking garden that sparks curiosity and envy in equal measure, one that makes you say I'd like to try that, but I couldn't possibly . . . Whiteside's reply, I'd guess: Yes, you can. The Way We Garden Now: 41 Pick-and-Choose Projects for Planting Your Paradise...